Coin control amusement apparatus



Oct. 24, 1933. L, WHGHT 1,931,779

COIN CONTROL AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed June 11, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENIOR G'L J/Vamu/nghfi BY W 1933- l c. 1.. WAINWRIGHT 1,931,779

COIN CONTROL AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed June 11, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 63 .3/ 6/ 64 5 7 11Z5 m5 6 46/9 57 55 5 33 I Oct. 24, 1933. Q wA|NwR|GHT 1,931,779

COIN CONTROL AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed June 11, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 M14 14F f 52 35 99 53- s7 7 15g 0 88 o i: 54 p. w 26 [N V EN TOR C'L Wain Lung/12 fl/A/ A TTORNE Y Patented Oct. 24, 1933 Ubii cont CONTROL AMUsEMEN r APPAaA'ros Charles L. Wainwright, San Bernardino, Calif.

Appiication June 11, 1932. SeriaiNo. 616,670 lfi-Claims. o1. ave-422 This invention relates to coin controlled apparatus, having particular reference to aform of game called pool.' .The game, as will be here- Tel) inaiter apparent, contains such certain changes, modifications of character, and innovations of construction as are consonant with the objects to be obtained. 7

At the present time there are a number of coin-controlled game apparatuses in public use, but insofar 'as applicant has knowledge, the invention to be herein described is the first and sole efiort to provide a game of pool in which all operations are purely mechanical and are coin controlled.

The principal object-of the present invention is to provide'a game of pool in which all operations are dependent upon a coin controlled mechanism.

A further object of theinventionis to pro vide, in combination with'a pool table playing surface, means to project balls in predetermined directions, means to gather the projected balls, means to place the gathered balls in a magazine, and means to take individual balls from said magazine and to so place them, that they may be again projected.

Another object is to provide, in combination with a pool table mechanism, means whereby the playing surfacev may be readily inclined and easily restored to normal position. An additional object is to provide, in combination with a pool table, means to gather the balls after playing.

Another object is to provide an improved means to lift balls from a lower to a higher level.v

Another object is to provide an improved means to separate one ball from a plurality of balls, whereby the separated ball may be used prior to the remaining balls.

By referring to the drawings, of which there I are four (4.) sheets, it will be seen that:v

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cabinet, housing the invention herein contemplated.

Figure 2-is an end elevation of the cabinet shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view, showing the relation be'- tween the ball lift and the ball projector. V

Figure 4 is a plan View taken on line 44;, Figure 7. g I

Figure 5 is a sectional view showing the ball projector in longitudinal section and showing'a fragment of the table playing surface in side elevation.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 66,

Figure 3, showing a spring pressed detent adapted to hold the balls inthe magazine prior to use. It also shows, in elevation, the means adapted to separate one ball at a time from its associated balls.

Figure 7 is a sectional View showing the leverage mechanism adapted to raise and lowerthe playingsurface and to elevate and lower the ball lift. Q i

Figure 8 is .a sectional elevation taken on line 8- 8, Figure '7, showing the ball lift guides and the magazine-lift adapted to convey the balls from a point of gathering to a point of discharge.

Figure 9 is a View of a fragment of the table 7 playing surface, showing the manner in which the table pockets empty into ball runways apended to the table.

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on line 10-10, Figure 4, showing the split pockets; the ball runways and the table surface in lowered position, in dottedlins- 1 Figure 11 is a sectional View taken on line 11 11, Figure 4, showing how the balls are retained by the rectangular frame in a rear 30 pocket. v I

Figure 12 is a plan view, partially in section showing pocket construction. Y

Figure l3 is a View taken on line 1313, Figure 12, showing the relation between a pocket in the table playing surface and a fixed. structural member of the table adapted to retain the balls in the pocket until the table surface is inclined downwardly.

Figure 14 is a plan View taken on line 14- 14; Figure 7, showing the leverage mechanism designed to raise and lower the table playing surface. Figure 15 is. a sectional View taken on line 1515, Figure 7. a

Figure 16 is aiview' showing in section a coin control mechanism operatively .connected to the table lift mechanism. V

Figure 17 is afront elevation showing the leading edge of the table playing surface. and the ball gathering runway appended to the table.

The game as herein contemplated may be roughly divided into five divisons, i.e., (a) the table playing 7 surface with its appended ball gathering means and the co-related pockets; (b) the lift designed to elevate the balls from a place of gathering to a magazine; (0) the mechanism designed to raise and lower the playing surface and to synchronously raiseand lower the ball lift; ((1) the projector, designed to project the loo ball over the playing surface in predetermined directions; (e) the cabinet to house the above outlined features.

The cabinet 25 may be of any appropriate design, one form of which is shown in Figures 1 and 2.

structurally, the cabinet 25 comprises the side walls 26 superimposed upon legs 27, the walls 26 are, as is customary with pool tables, rectangular in shape and near the upper edge of the walls 26 a rectangular frame 28 is securely fitted to the inner walls of the cabinet. The frame 28 carries a rubber banking strip 29 which projects inwardly from the frame 28. Immediately above and overhanging the frame 28 a top sill 31 is secured. The sill 31 is recessed to receive a plate glass covering 32 which extends over the table surface. A second frame 33 is secured to the sill 31 and serves to retain the glass plate 32 in position as well as to give a finish to the cabinet.

The playing surface 35 is hinged to one end of the frame 28 by means of hinges 36. The playing surface is held snugly against the frame 28 in a'manner to be hereinafter described. Split pockets 38 are jointly formed in the playing surface 35 and in the frame 28. Figures 4 and 9 show the split pockets 38. The object of forming the pockets in halves is to permit the balls 40 to easily and quickly enter the ball runways 41 which are dependent to the under surface of the playing table 35.

As shown in Figures 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 17, the ball runways 41 extend around three sides of the playing surface 35.

That part of the runway 41 which extends across the front of the playing surface 35 is inclined, as is shown in Figure 17, whereby balls 40 are caused to roll to a discharge aperture 43 formed in the runway 41 from which they enter a ball lift 45 to be hereinafter described.

The ball lift, comprises an assembly of lift guides, a lift and a magazine from which the balls may be severally taken, see Figures 7 and 8, wherein 50 indicates vertical guideways within which hoists 51 are adapted to move up and down in response to pressure exerted by levers 52, which are connected with the hoists by means of pins 53. The guides 50 are slotted on their. inner faces as is shown by the reference character .54.

A bridge 55 extends across the spacing between the guideways and entering the slots 5% is connected with the hoists 51, as by pins 51 extending upwardly from the upper surface of the hoists 51. The bridge 55 is trussed, as shown by member 56, one portion of the member 56 forms the pins53 which are freely connected to the hoists 51.

Lying in inclined although substantially horizontal position and adjacent to the bridge 55 is a tubular receptacle 57 into which the balls 40 may enter, through opening 57', from the aperture 43 in the ball runway 41, see Figure 7.

When the hoist 51 is elevated to the position shown in Figure 3 the tubular receptacle or magazine 57 is in alignment with an inclined passageway 58 formed in the top sill 31, which discharges at a point adjacent to the conical upper surface 59 of a ball projector 60".,

A spring pressed ball 61 projects into the passageway 58 thus retaining the balls 40 in the passageway and tubular receptacle 57. A ball separator 60 having a V pointed spear 61 is positioned immediately above the point of surface contact between the first and second balls lodged in the passageway 58. By reference to Figure 3 it will be observed that when the hand rest 63 is forced down against the resistance of the spring 64 that the first ball back of the ball 61 will be dislodged and forced into the conical upper surface 59 of the ball projector 60".

As shown in Figure 7, the leverage mechanism assembly includes a bar which is fulcrumed by a pivot 71 to a base member 72. The bar 70 is bifurcated at 73, while each of the members of the bifurcation are bifurcated to receive rollers 74 which rotate upon a pin 75. A collapsible inclined support 76 is fulcrumed to the base member 72 and is hinged to the same pin 75 which supports the rollers 74.

The collapsible support 76 is comprised of two members, an upper member 77 and a lower member 78 which are hinged together by means of a pin 79. The upper member is shaped as an inverted U, through the base portion of which pin 75 passes, While the legs 77 of the upper member are parallel, their ends are cut on an angle as is indicated by dotted lines 83, see Figure 16. The lower member 78 is also substantially U shaped, being slightly wider than the upper member 77, which fits within the lower member 78, see Figures 15 and 16.

The span portion of the member 78 is formed of solid material whose upper surfaceis inclined to match the inclination of the ends of the legs 77 of the upper member 77, thus forming a structural member which can bend onlyin one direction.

A link 82 is hinged to the inclined support 76 at the same point that members 77 and 78 are hinged, while the opposite end of the link 82 is bifurcated to receive a member 84 which is pivoted to the link 82 and to a base member 85.

The member 84. is formed with spaced parallel sides 84 to receive a lost motion'adjustment link 87, which is connected to a coin control meehanism 88 by means of a hinge 89. As shown in Figure 7, a spring 90 which is under tension, is operatively connected to the front wall 26 of the cabinet and to the member 84, thus constantly forcing the angular faces of the upper and lower members into matched alignment, and into firm contact, thereby insuring that the joint formed by the upper member 77 and the lower member 78 will not be broken until the appropriate mechanism is operated.

A parallel following bar or lever 52 is linked to the bar 70 by means of fixed pins 93 operating in lost motion slots 94 formed in the following bar 52. The end 95 of the bar 52 is, as aforementioned, hinged to the hoists 51 by means of pins 53 while the opposite end of the bar 52 is hinged at 96 to a self adjusting lever 87, while the lower end of the lever 97 is pivoted in the base member 72 by means of a pin A spring 99 secured to the bar 70 near its upper end and being oppositely connected to the side 100 of the cabinet 25, tends to keep the playing table 35 in a floating position, whereby little effort is necessary to either cause it to move to inclinedposition or to be pushed back to normal horizontal position.

When the hand rest 63 of the ball separator 60 is pressed and the V point of the spear 61' forces the ball 40 out of the passageway 58 and into the conical upper surface of the ball proprojector, where it is held stationary due to a spring pressed obstruction 107 that slightly protrudes within thebarrel of the projector, While rearwardly of the ba1l'40, the head of the plunger 108 is at rest, thus forming a space into'which the ball40'may rest, s eeFigure 5. a

The projector is formed with a stationary plunger guide 109 and a guide 110 which is movable with the plunger 108. The guides 1 09 and'llO align the plunger so'that it will follow a straight path tostrike the ball 40 when it has been pulled outwardly against the-resistance of compressing spring 110 which encircles the plunger'lOSbetween the fixed guide 109 and the movable guide 110, and is then released. A knob 111 on the free end of the plunger forms'a handy grip Wherebythe plunger maybe pulled out- Wardly to an extent depending upon the force with which itisintended to strike the "ball 40. The body of the projector 60 is formed with a bearing 113 which permits easy rotation of the projector through a range in excess 'of 90 degrees which permits the projector to project a ball to any point on the surface of the table 35.

' A plate 114 supports theprojector in position while a stud 115 keeps the projector properly aligneti Having described the construction of the several divisions of detail that,'taken together, form the invention herein contemplated, I will now describe the method of operation in order to play a game with the apparatus herein shown and described.

Assuming that all of the balls are either scattered over the surface of the table 35 or in the split pockets 38 orperhaps scattered over both table and pockets, and that it is desired to again play the game. I 7

It is only necessaryto put a coin into recess 120 slide 121 of the coin control device 88. The finger 'grip 122 of coin control isthen pushed inwardly, the dog 123 overriding the coin'and permitting the slide to be pushed back until the lost motion link has completely run zontal position the pockets 38 are split asshown in Figure 10, thus permitting balls 40 to drop into 1 the ball runway 41, while. those balls upon the table surface roll down and drop off into theball runway that extends along the front of the table;

The balls roll by gravity down the runway 41 and all meet. at the lowest point in' the runway, which position is indicated by aperture 4 3. 'The balls then roll out of the aperture into opening 57' in the tubular receptacle 57. After allthe balls have entered the receptacle 57, slide 121 is pulled outwardly causing theleverage mechanism to'assurne normal position, therebyraising the table surface to'nornial horizontal position and concurrently lifting the ball containing receptacle 57 from lower position toupper position' where the receptacle 5'? coincides with the passageway 58, 'It will be noted that the re ceptacle 57 is normally aslant so that balls 40 will readily roll, therefrom.

During the time the balls are entering the serves to closethe mouthof the receptacle 5'7.

When the receptacle 5'7 is aligned with the passageway 58 the balls roll from the receptacle to the'passageway, the foremost one resting against the spring pressed detent 61. The ball separator is then actuated by pressing-downwardly'upon the hand rest 63 causing the V shaped spear to force the first ball past the detent' 61 and into the-conical upper surface'of the projector from which'it rolls to opening 105 and thence to the barrel 1060f the projector.

"The spring pressed obstruction 10'? serves to preventtlie ball'frompossibly rolling out of the mouth of the barrel and in the meanwhile'the operator, after aligning the barrel of the pro jest-or in the direction he Wishes to project the ball; pulls back on the plunger and then permits it to snap free, the plunger 108 striking the ball so and knocking itpast' the. obstruction 107 andout of the barrel 106 of the projector;

All balls may be similarly played until all balls areeitherin the pockets 38 or scattered over the table 35 thus bringing us back to the point of beginning, whence the cycle of operation may be repeated at the discretion of the operator. It will be obvious that any rules covering points tobe. made may be setup by the players for'their convenience, none of which have any particular place-in the foregoing description.

Having thus describedthe preferred form of my" invention, I am well aware that certain changes and modifications of features of construction maybe madeherein without departing from the spirit of the invention herein set forth, I 'therefore'claim all. such changes and modifications ofconstrriction as fall within the spirit of the invention herein set forth.

1. In a game apparatus in-whichballs are predeterminedly projectedover a-flat-surface having pockets around its marginal'edge', said pockets being adapted to-receive saidb'alls, means to tilt said flatsurface, means tofconcentrate the balls scattered over the said fiat surface and in said pockets,'means to return said balls from a point of concentration to a point from which they can be projected, and means topredeterminedly project 'said balls. v

' 2. In a' game apparatus in which balls are predeterminedly projected over a flat surface, pockets in the marginal'edges of said flat surface, said pockets' being adapted-to receive said ballsy means to evacuate the balls that may be in said pockets, means to'concentrate the balls so evacuated, means-to move the balls from the point of concentration to a point from which they may be projected and means to project said balls. i

3. In-a game, aplaying surf'ace, a resilient impact strip bounding said-playing surface, pockets in themarginal edges of said playing surface, a projector adapted to receive and to project balls over said playing surface in'predetermined the-dimension of the space evacuated by said separated ball, whereby the foremost ball will be in position to next be separated from its companions, said means comprising an inclined ball magazine and a hand pressed plunger, said plunger being adapted to enter said. inclined magazine to displace the said foremost-ball from Within said magazine. a

4. In a game, a playing surface, a resilient impact strip bounding said playing surface, split pockets in the .marginal edges of said playing surface, a projector adapted to receive and to project balls in predetermined directions over said playing surface, coin controlled means to tilt said playing surface and to separate the halves of said split pockets, means to gather said balls after they have been projected over said playing surface, means to transfer the gathered balls from a point of grouping to a magazine, and means to separate one ball at a time from its companions whereby said separated ball will drop into said projector.

5. In a mechanized pool table, a cabinet, a playing surface hinged in said cabinet, split pockets in the marginal edges of said playing surface, a projector to project balls predeterminedly over said playing surface, a coin controlled means to lower one end of said playing surface, means to gather below the level of the playing surface balls lying on said playing surface, means to transfer said gathered balls from a point of grouping to a magazine, means to elevate said magazine and said balls to a higher level and means to feed one ball at a time to said projector.

6. In a mechanized pool table, a cabinet, a playing surface hinged in said cabinet, split pockets in the marginal edges of said playing surface, a projector adapted toproject balls predeterminedly over said playing surface, a balanced leverage to retain said playingsurface in normal playing'position, said leverage being adapted to permit said playing surface .to be inclined downwardly, means to gather balls lying upon said playing surface and in said split pockets, and means to lift the gatheredballs to a level from which they may roll by gravity to said projector.

7. In a mechanized pool table, a cabinet, a horizontal playing surface hinged in said cabinet, an impact strip positioned above and adjacent to said playing surface, ball pockets in the marginal edge of said playing surface, a projector to project balls predeterminedly over said playing surface, a coin controlled, balanced leverage to tilt said hinged playing surface,

means to gather balls lying upon said playing surface and. in said pockets, means to transfer said gathered balls froma point of concentration. to a magazine, means to raise said balls and magazine to a point from which said balls will roll by gravity to a ball separator, and means to lift the playing surface to horizontal position, said ball lifting means operating in synchronism with the means to lift the playing surface.

8. In a mechanized pool table, acabinet, a horizontal, playing surface hinged in said cabinet, an impact strip adjacent to and bounding the playing surface, split pockets in the marginal edge of said playing surface, a projector to project balls in predetermined directions over said playing surface, a balanced leverage to lower and raise said playing surface, means to gather said projected balls, means operating in synchronism with the lowering and raising of said playing surface to lift said gathered balls to. a lever from which they may roll by gravity to a ball separator, said ball separator being adapted to cut one ball at a time from its companions whereby the separated ball will drop into said projector.

9. In agame apparatus, a cabinet, a horizontal playing surface hinged to said cabinet, an impact strip positioned above and adjacent to said playing surface, pockets in the marginaledge of said playing surface, a projector to project balls in predetermined directions over said playing surface, means to tilt said hinged playing surface, means to gather projected balls from 'said tilted surface and said pockets, means to lift the gathered balls to a plane from which theywill roll by gravity to a ball separator, said separator being adapted to cut one ball at a time from its companions whereby the separated ball will drop into said projector, said projector comprising a conical receiver, a barrel extending in a horizontal directionand being aligned with the vertical medial axis of said-receiver, a port to permit a ball topass from said receiver tosaid barrel and a spring pressed plunger adapted to strike a ball in said barrel when retracted and then released.

10. In a pool table having a'body structure and movable horizontal playing surface, cushion rails adjacent to said playing surface, ball pockets in said table, said pockets being formed in-halves, the one half of said pockets being\ formed in said horizontal playing surface, the opposite half of said pockets being formed in the cushion rail of said table, whereby balls in said pockets may be evacuated by lowering said movable playing surface 11. In a pool table having a body structure and a movable, horizontal playing surface, pockets in said table, said pockets being formed in halves, one group of half pockets being formed in said movable playing surface, the op posite half of said pockets being formed in said body structure whereby said. pockets form an entity, and means to lower said movable playing surface whereby balls in said pockets may be evacuated.

12. In a pool table, having a body structure and a movable horizontal playing surface hinged to said body structure, cushion rails adjacentto said playing surface, pockets in the corners of said, playing surface nearest the point where said playing surface is hinged to said body, means to retain balls in said pockets, said means being an overhanging section of said cushion rail.

13. In pocket construction for pool tables wherein the pocket is of less depth than the diameter of the balls adapted to be played, an open channel leading from said pocket, a cushion rail normally aligned with and extending across said channel and means to lower the structure wherein said pockets are formed, whereby the bottom of said pocket will. be at a greater distance from the lower surface of said cushion rail than the diameter of the balls lti pockets to move relativeto the other of said half pockets whereby balls in said whole pocket may.

breakable member, a link pivotally secured to said fulcrum, a second link, said second link being pivoted to the free end of first said link,

the opposite end of the'said second link being pivoted to said base member and a coin control device linkedto said second link whereby a back thrust on said coin control device will cause said breakable member to break at its point of fulcrum to lower said inclined bar and said table.

C. L. WAINWRIGHT. 

